Wanderers off to grand final

By
Eric Kontos

THE Western Sydney Wanderers will play their second consecutive A-League grand final on Sunday in Brisbane, against minor premiers the Roar.

We made it: Mateo Poljak celebrates with Wanderers fans after the team beat the Mariners 2-0 to advance to the 2014 A-League grand final against Brisbane Roar. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

THE Western Sydney Wanderers will play their second consecutive A-League grand final on Sunday in Brisbane, against minor premiers the Roar.

The pride and joy of Sydney's west won't be lacking in support, as thousands of their fans are expected to make the trek to the Queensland capital to help their team win its first championship.

The Wanderers advanced to their second consecutive grand final after comfortably defeating the Central Coast Mariners 2-0 on Saturday night at Pirtek Stadium before 20,000 fans.

It was sweet revenge for the Wanderers, who had been defeated by the Mariners 12 months earlier in the 2013 grand final.

There was a chance that the grand final would be played in Sydney. That it depended on Melbourne Victory beating Brisbane Roar in the the second semi-final — it was not to be. The Queenslanders won 1-0 in controversial circumstances.

For the Wanderers, the only sour note from their historic victory on Saturday night was an ankle injury to their forward Mark Bridges.